UK General Election 2012 - Campaign Thread (FULL RESULTS)

[Lumine]

General Election 2012:

List of Players:

Labour Party
John McDonnell, Labour Leader and Prime Minister (Ted Bessell)
Lisa Nandy MP (Siren)
Jeremy Corbyn MP (GoTfan)
Owen Smith MP (Truman)

Conservative Party:
Theresa May, Conservative Leader (Barnes)
Ken Clarke MP (Dereich)
Philip Hammond MP (Kalwejt)

Liberal Democrats:
Nick Clegg, Lib Dem Leader (Blair)
Charles Kennedy MP (Dr. Cynic)

UKIP:
Paul Nuttall, UKIP Leader (Classic Conservative)
Nigel Farage (ChairmanSanchez)

SNP:
Alex Salmond, SNP Leader (Tim Turner)
Angus Robertson (Clyde)

Green Party:
Caroline Lucas, Green Leader (CMB222)

Sinn Fein:
Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein Leader (SJoyce)

DUP:
Arlene Foster, DUP Leader (Dkrol)

Electoral Regions:

Scotland: 59 MP's
Wales: 40 MP's
Northern Ireland: 18 MP's
England: 533 MP's
-East of England: 58 MP's
-East Midlands: 46 MP's
-London: 73 MP's
-North East: 29 MP's
-North West: 75 MP's
-South East: 84 MP's
-South West: 55 MP's
-West Midlands: 59 MP's
-Yorkshire and the Humber: 54 MP's

[Lumine]

Turn One: Of Leaders and Manifestos

January 5th to January 12th, 2012

Dimbleby: Good evening, and welcome to our coverage of the 2012 General Election.

Politics has turned unpredictable and exciting at its most after the surprise election of John McDonnell as Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, starting the chain of events that leads us to this election. With the Government defeated in a vote of no confidence by Theresa May and Nick Clegg, a five-week campaign has been set before the British public goes to the polls on February 9th. Let’s go to Nick Robinson for some analysis of the current situation:

Robinson: Yes, David, truly an exciting situation is before us. With the fall of the short-lived Labour minority government the British public goes to the polls on our first election under proportional representation, which should significantly change the make-up of the next parliament. So let see the latest polling averages on this first day of campaign:

Average Polls:

Conservative Party: 35%
Labour Party: 26%
Liberal Democrats: 22%
UKIP: 5%
Green Party: 3%
SNP: 3%
Others: 6%

Robinson: There it is, Theresa May’s Conservatives continue to lead in the polls despite having taken a few losses in the past months, leading in the range of 35%. Labour and the Lib Dems are behind and rather close to each other, Labour hurt by the party infighting after their latest leadership election and the Lib Dems facing a few losses after being part of the defunct coalition. Far behind you have UKIP, the Green Party and the SNP, all posing a credible threat to the major parties in certain regions but still far from winning too many MP’s.

What we can see is that Nick Clegg’s dramatic decision to pull the plug on the coalition has halted further bleeding of votes, again placing the Lib Dems on a strong position. With Prime Minister McDonnell as an underdog due to his unorthodox views, it seems the Conservatives haven’t yet consolidated as the clear alternative as Theresa May remains relatively unknown to the public due to little exposure. While anything other than a hung parliament looks virtually impossible, the campaign will be decisive.

Info from the GM:

1.- Turn: This turn lasts for 72 hours, ending on the afternoon of July 7th (Friday).

2.- Manifestos: During this turn each party must deliver its manifesto. I'll open a thread for your to post them (as explained in the rules, your six key proposals and nothing more). Manifestos will be scrutinized by the press and other parties, so be careful with what your promise.

3.- Random Events: Starting from next turn a random number generator for each party may determine good news or bad news, as has been the norm in other campaign games. If something particularly newsworthy happens a special news edition, reaction or newspaper editorial might appear.

[Classic Conservative]

BELIEVE IN BRITAIN TOUR

January 5, 2012:
Leader Nuttall, began the 'Believe in Britiain Tour', with a manifesto launch in Hartlepool, County Durham. The manifesto includes six major points including a referendum on exiting the EU and protection for British jobs. He was joined by Mr. Farage and the North East UKIP List.

Nuttall then toured Darlington Market and met with small business owners in a roundtable meeting and discussed how UKIP's plan for the economy and how a Brexit will help British businesses.

Nuttall then had a campaign rally in Eston where he joined a crowd of roughly one thousand and spoke about how UKIP is the only party that will allow a referendum, better jobs for the NorthEast and reforming the NHS.

Leader Nuttall then had a town hall at a pub in Middlesbrough where he answered questions on the EU, the economy, better paying jobs, the death penalty and a sound foreign policy suited on Britain. He joined the local Football League to play a game and they had a few pints afterwards.

January 6, 2012
Leader Nuttall, began the morning with a rally at a local miners union in Bishop Auckland where he spoke of how Labour has forgotten its roots and abandoned the working class for the posh educated urbanites.

Nuttall then toured the old mills and mines in Cockfield Fell, where he spoke of how UKIP will get British out of the EU and bring back good jobs to the Northeast. He also met with former miners and citizen who live in poverty.

Nuttall then held a rally in Consett at a closed steel mill where he spoke about how Labour has forgotten the working class and how UKIP is the only party who supports the working class. He also spoke of how UKIP's Economic Manifesto will help Consett.

Nuttall then went to a former iron ore mine in Sedgefield and spoke of how we must protect our industries and Buy British and Hire British. He also spoke to former iron workers and told them about how UKIP will help the working class.

January 7, 2012
Paul Nuttall, held a town hall meeting at a local market in Castle, Newcastle upon Tyne where he answered questions about education, foreign aid, Islam, immigration control and a Brexit.

Nuttall held a rally in North Shields where he spoke of the fishing industry being crushed by the entrance into the EU and how UKIP, the party of fishermen, plans to fix it. He also spoke of how UKIP is the only party that supports a Brexit to fix our fishing industry.

Nuttall held a rally in Jarrow, where he spoke of a free Britain out of the EU and how UKIP has replaced Labour as the working class party.

Nuttall then met with former Labour supporters and other citizens at a rally in Blyth where he spoke of the economic agenda of UKIP and how they support a referendum on leaving the EU.

January 8, 2012
Paul Nuttall attended an Anglican service at Saint Mary-At-Finchley Parish in Finchley, London.

Nuttall then held a town hall with local Jewish leaders in Finchley and spoke about how UKIP is the only party that fully supports Israel.

Nuttall held a rally in Prestwich with Jewish supporters of both UKIP and the Conservatives. He stated how he would instruct his Ambassador to UN to veto any anti-Israeli resolution and would move the Embassy to Jerusalem.

Nuttall then flew to Ramsgate where he met with fishermen and held a 'Believe in Britain' rally with the local fishermen and promised to unleash the floodgates of fish and deregulate the fishing industry. He also promised to introduce a bill to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy and regain British national waters.

January 9, 2012
Nuttall held a rally in Luton where he spoke of a referendum regarding exiting the European Union, expanding grammar schools, lowering taxes and a better immigration system.

He then held a rally in Braintree where he spoke of a Brexit deal, the Hire and Buy British plan, cutting foreign aid and expanding the military.

Nuttall then toured a local fishery in Clacton with Aaron Wolfe where he spoke of expanding fisheries, leaving the EU and cutting back regulation for businesses to grow.

Nuttall held a rally in Basildon where he invited the East of England UKIP List. The candidates spoke of the plan to exit the European Union, the Buy/Hire British plan, cutting foreign aid and reforming the NHS.

January 10, 2012
Leader Nuttall held a town hall in Amber Valley where he answered questions on bringing back jobs, globalization, trade, Brexit and unemployment.

He then had a rally in Burton where he discussed the economic plans of UKIP, how Labour has left behind the working class, the Buy/Hire British plan and the referendum on EU membership.

Nuttall went to a rally in Wolverhampton where he spoke about a Brexit, foreign aid and strengthening the military and arming the police.

He went to Wellingborough where he spoke about Brexit, schools and the NHS.

January 11, 2012
Nuttall spent his morning visiting shops and small businesses in downtown Aspatria. He spoke with business owners about how UKIP is the only party that supports a Brexit and how Labour has left the working class behind.

Mr. Nuttall then held a rally in St. Helens, where he spoke about a need for a referendum on Brexit, lower taxes for the working class, strict immigration control and how Labour has abandoned the working class.

He then held a rally at a former shipbuilding factory in Birkenhead where he spoke of how manufacturing and fishing has been decimated by the entrance into the EU and how only UKIP will solve this.

Nuttall held a late night rally in Downtown Manchester where he spoke about the dangers of unfeathered immigration, more grammar schools and church schools, a referendum on Brexit and cutting foreign aid.

January 12, 2012
Leader Nuttall along with canvassers, canvassed Washington and specifically the working class neighborhoods. They spoke to residents about how Labour has forgotten the working class and the Buy/Hire British Policy.

Nuttall then held a rally in Newcastle where he spoke about the manifesto, bringing back jobs, a referendum on leaving the EU and how we fix the status quo.

Nuttall then traveled to Prudhoe where he held a town hall and answered questions about many issues including a Brexit, grammar schools, Islam, trade, fishing and immigration.

Nuttall and the other members of the NorthEast UKIP List held a joint rally at the former ironworks at Port Clarence. They spoke about bringing back industry, a referendum on Brexit, lowering buisness taxes and how Labour has forgotten the working class and only UKIP backs it.

The local NorthEast UKIP canvassing team has been canvassing the Northeast for the past week and appeared with Nuttall when he was in the area.

[Classic Conservative]

UKIP REGIONAL FRONT BENCH

North East England

Paul Nuttall

Scotland

David Coburn

North West England

Steven Woolfe

Yorkshire and Humber

Michael Hookem

East Midlands

Arron Banks

West Midlands

Suzanne Evans

London

Gerard Batten

East of England

Nigel Farage

South East England

Diane James

South West England

Douglas Carswell

Wales

Nathan Gill

Northern Ireland

David Jones

[CMB222]

Green Leader Caroline Lucas Releases Manifesto
January 5 - 12, 2012

The Green Party releases their 2012 party manifesto "for the common good" in a rally with supporters in Brighton, England. Lucas travels with other prominent Green candidates through the South East of England campaigning, making stops in Eastbourne, Folkestone, Canterbury, Crawley, Woking and Maidenhead before the week was out including deploying a canvassing team in the South East.

"I feel good about our campaign and manifesto so far," Lucas said during an interview with Sky News on January 12, "I think that the new electoral system is really going to give the Green Party a chance to step up and make a difference." Lucas also confirmed she would attend next week's leader's debate.

5 CP spent on canvassing in the South East

[Barnes]

The Leader of the Opposition, Mrs May, taking to the hustings in Bolton, in the new North West England constituency.

Thursday 5 January 2012

Theresa May kicked off the Conservative campaign in traditional Labour territory by pledging she had turned her party firmly towards the interests of working class communities.  Mrs May's remarks were in part:

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Friday 6 January

Mrs May traveled to Manchester and spoke primarily on youth issues:

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Saturday 7 January

Mrs May spent the day field working Greater Manchester with local Tory HQ and door-knocking with local area list candidates.

Sunday 8 January

Mrs May traveled to Liverpool and visited local Tory HQ.

Monday 9 January

Mrs May delivered a speech primarily focusing on unemployment and urban poverty in Liverpool and then drove to north Wales where she phone banked at Tory HQ in Wrexham.

Tuesday 10 January

Mrs May traveled to Wrexham and held a campaign launch with the Welsh Conservative AM team, promising a commitment to devolution and the delivery of greater powers to the Welsh Assembly and local governments.  

Wednesday 11 January

Speaking in Conwy, Mrs May attacked UKIP's "obsession with ripping apart our economy over the European Union" stating that withdrawing from the EU would remove billions of pounds of investment in Wales creating "hardships that no flashy banner or dodgy maths could solve." Pledging she would veto any new EU deal with saw an "erosion of national sovereignty," Mrs May vowed to put trade and job investment at the top of Brussels's priority:

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Thursday 12 January

Mrs May flew to Halifax in West Yorkshire with the full Tory frontbench to launch the Conservative manifesto.  The choice of a location in a northern Labour heartland was a deliberate shot across the Government's bow as Mrs May upended Tory rhetoric to promise "guaranteed places in every board room in this country" for workers.

During a press conference following the manifesto launch, Mrs May confirmed her attendance at the leaders' debate.

Following the manifesto launch, Mrs May door-knocked with several Shadow Cabinet members in Leeds.


Conservative CP Totals--Round I
Canvasing teams in North West, Yorkshire, and Wales: 15

[DKrol]

January 5 - January 12


First Minister Arlene Foster speaking to a group of DUP supporters in Belfast on January 10, 2012

January 5, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster, DUP Westminster Leader Nigel Dodd, and North Antrim MP Ian Paisley, Jr. held a press conference in Ballycastle, County Antrim to launch the DUP’s 2012 general election campaign. Foster spoke about the “boundless optimism of the Northern Irish people” and their “desire for a greater say in the governing of their own lives”. She went on to say that the DUP is the only party “positioned to fight for Northern Ireland” in Westminster.

After the press conference, the three DUP officials toured Holy Trinity Church, Church of Ireland. They observed a minute’s silence at the end of their tour.

January 6, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent much of the day meeting with senior DUP leadership and staff, selecting their proportional list candidates and developing a messaging strategy.

Foster also held a conference call with DUP MLAs to discuss events in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

January 7, 2012:

The DUP held a rally in Belfast to formally launch the DUP 2012 general election campaign. DUP Leader Arlene Foster used her speech to reiterate many of the same points she made in her January 5th press conference, adding the tagline, “Northern Ireland holds the keys to its own destiny. It’s time to turn the key and unlock our potential!”. She also unveiled the DUP’s manifesto “Standing Strong for Northern Ireland” at the rally.

January 8, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

January 9, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held a press conference in Enniskillen to publicly announce the DUP’s proportional list candidates. At the press conference, Foster stressed the historic nature of the list, as it was comprised equally of men and women. Foster told the press “We’re going to bring Northern Ireland’s political landscape into the 21st Century, even if Westminster is still a old boy’s club for most.”

2012 Democratic Unionist Party Proportional List Candidates

1. Arlene Foster, MLA
2. Nigel Dodds, MP
3. Ian Paisley, Jr., MP
4. Jeffrey Donaldson, MP
5. Pam Lewis, MLA
6. Gregory Campbell, MP
7. Councillor Norah Beare
8. Paul Girvan, MLA
9. Michelle McIlveen, MLA
10. Councillor Aileen Graham
11. Ms. Emma Little-Pengelly
12. Peter Weir, MLA
13. David Simpson, MP
14. Sammy Wilson, MP
15. Councillor Margaret Tinsley
16. Diane Dodds, MEP
17. Alastair Ross, MLA
18. Councillor Louise Templeton

January 10, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster spent the morning leading a group of volunteers around Belfast, knocking on doors and meeting votes.

In the afternoon, Foster toured Belfast International Airport. While there, Foster touted that the DUP Manifesto “recognizes the great asset the BIA is, and pledges to give it the funding it needs to rival Heathrow and bring a great wealth of commerce and leisure travel to Northern Ireland.”

She spent the evening meeting with DUP volunteers in Belfast and making telephone calls.

January 11, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster appeared on Daybreak to make the DUP pitch. She defended the DUP Manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the European Union saying “We voted to join the European Community in 1973, why shouldn’t we get a vote on whether or not to leave it now? This is a democratic government - the people get a say in how we run the country. Let’s give them the opportunity to give us their input on this critically important issue.” When asked if the DUP would support leaving the EU, Foster said “We’ve been a Eurosceptic party since our founding. Yes.”

Later on, she knocked on doors in Newtownabbey and met with the County Antrim DUP leadership.

January 12, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster gave a speech in Altmore, County Tyrone in the morning. She used the speech to attack Sinn Fein and their policy of abstentionism, arguing “What is the sense in voting for someone as your representative who won’t go on, take the seat, say the oath, and actually represent you? That’s like hiring a plumber who says he won’t show up, won’t find the leak, and won’t replace the pipe!” She stressed that the DUP was the only party that “can seriously work to improve the condition in Northern Ireland.”

She spent the rest of the day in meetings related to the Northern Irish Executive.

[Donerail]

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams speaking to voters in Enniskillen

January 5:

Manifesto release in a rally with supporters in western Belfast, along with several notable elected Sinn Féin members. The manifesto includes several major components, centered around the devolution of financial powers to the Assembly and Executive.

January 6:

Knocking doors in Enniskillen, as well as a visit to the local Ardhowen Theatre, followed by an evening rally at Brooke Park.

January 7:

Meeting voters at the open-air market in Cookstown in the morning, followed by a visit to Tullyhogue Fort in the afternoon and a meeting with local small business owners in the evening.

January 8:

Knocking doors in Omagh, including a visit to the new Strule Arts Centre and a meeting with teachers from the local secondary schools, followed by a evening rally in the Grange Park.

January 9:

Knocking doors in Dungannon and meeting voters in Dungannon Park.

January 10:

Meetings with Irish-language groups in Strabane, including a visit to an Irish-language primary school.

January 11:

Knocking doors in Coalisland, followed by an evening meeting with the local chapter of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland to discuss restoration of the Coalisland Canal.

January 12:

Knocking doors in Lisnaskea

5 CP spent on a canvassing team in Northern Ireland

[Classic Conservative]

BISHOP AUCKLAND ADDRESS ON LABOUR

            For too many years, Labour has taken advantage of the working men and women of this nation. From Harold Wilson and his entrance into the job-killing, factory-closing European Union to John McDonnell and his continued support for the European Union. Labour has watched time and time again; factories closing, fisheries being downsized, communities struggling with addiction and job losses and families barely affording rent. When they have been elected to help you for the last half-century, they raised your taxes and they then spent those taxes helping low-skilled immigrants come into this nation. Where was Labour when the Bryant & May factory and four coal pits closed in 1994, well they signed the Granita Pact. Labour for decades has campaigned on helping our local economy in the North East while in reality, they have decimated your economy and deceived you. If Labour, truly cared about you or your families' livelihoods then they would join the picket line once again and fight for the local factory to not close its doors and kill the local economy. We here at the United Kingdom Independence Party stand in solidarity with the working class and their struggles. The reasons we do that, is we were raised working class. My father and mother were in the working class and worked hard and long hours in the local factory and hospital just to survive, I know what life is like for those struggling to fix dinner, because for a portion of my life, that was me. Labour has taken your votes and tax dollars for granted, for far too long. They have abandoned the working class in their agenda and instead are fixated on making life easier for young cosmopolitans in London and those who just arrived here from failed states. It's time we start putting our people in the North East first and take our freedom back. Our manifesto, was specifically designed to help working class communities like Bishop Auckland. Our main manifesto plank is a referendum to exit the European Union, Labour for too long has profited off of the the EU while our factories get shipped off to Poland and China. And the little good-paying jobs left in Britain, are all taken by low-skilled Eastern Europeans. We support increased vocational training and the opening of over one hundred grammar schools across our nation, so that every child has a good and successful education and life. Our government is corrupt, because of Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories they have concentrated power in London for far too long and spent our money on lavish entitlements and perks for them. We must reform our government and shake up the system. Our NHS is broken and failing, our manifesto forms a council of working people and professionals who will cut waste, fraud and abuse across the healthcare system. We will institute new hiring policies that make sure that only legal residents can be hired for new positions in local businesses and factories. We call for a ten percent repatriation tax to bring back capital from overseas so that businesses can reinvest in Britain and her people. We spend too much money on ungrateful, overseas nations that fund terrorist groups. We will tell Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, enough is enough and dramatically cut and freeze foreign aid. With all of this we are putting our working class communities first and when we leave the European Union, we will truly bring back our jobs, wealth and prosperity. Thank You All! God Bless Britain! God Bless the Queen! And remember to vote for UKIP in the election!

Paul Nuttall will take part in the debate in Round 2

[Blair]

Nick Clegg launches a witty, and refreshingly honest video on social media for his supporters.

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January 5th-Nick Clegg launches campaign. Pledges to 'end crooked, old system' Bristol, South West

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January 6th- Nick Clegg launches 'fair deal for Britain' in Sheffield, Yorkshire and Humber

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January 7th- Clegg tell students to spread the message that 'the times are a changing'''. Cardiff, Wales

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January 8th- Clegg rides battlebus into Manchester, and tells activists 'Hell Yes I'll debate.'' North West.

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January 9th- Clegg, and Cable visit school in Birmingham''. West Midlands

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January 10th-Debate, and campaign strategy Planning in London''.

January 11th-Lib Dems blast Tories over uni fees: It's divide and rule'''. University of Kent, South East.

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January 12th-Clegg ends whirlwind week with visit to Brewery. Plymouth, South West

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[GoTfan]

Chancellor Corbyn Heads to the North-West

Corbyn at a rally in Liverpool

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Corbyn campaigned for seats in England's northwest this week, stopping in several working class communities in the area. He also gave speeches to several Constituency Labour Parties, and gave a particularly fiery speech at a rally in Liverpool; pictured above.

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Corbyn seems to be carving out a niche form himself as the Prime Minister's attack dog, something that his fiery speaking style seems to be working well for.

[Anna Komnene]

Home Secretary Lisa Nandy Tours Scotland to Hear Constituent Concerns and Promote Worker's Rights

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Campaign stops in Glasgow on January 5th and 6th, Stirling on January 7th, Edinburgh on January 8th and 9th, Dundee on January 10th, Aberdeen on January 11th, and Inverness on January 12th

[Mike Thick]

John McDonnell Campaigns, and Stuff

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January 5th: Manifesto release in home constituency in London, followed by door-knocking in the area and meeting with voters.

January 6th: Door-knocking in London, and meeting with voters. The Prime Minister travels via the Tube during this time.

January 7th: The Prime Minister travels to Leeds, where he meets voters and talks with local businessmen and women.

January 8th: Rally in Leeds, where the Prime Minister discussed Labour's plans for infrastructure. Door-knocking and meeting with voters.

January 9th: Rally in Sheffield, meeting with voters. Discussion of Labour's foreign policy.

January 10th: Door-knocking and meeting with voters in York.

January 11th: Tour of a factory in Sheffield, meeting with workers -- discussion of Labour's policy on Trade Unions.

January 12th: Door-knocking and meeting with voters in Scarborough.

CP Points: 5 on canvassing in London, 10 on canvassing in Yorkshire and the Humber, 10 CP on a national seat projection.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

January 5
GIves speech at University of Edinburgh
"An indepedent Scotland will get to the Moon by 2022!"
January 6
Door-knocking in Scottish highlands, meeting with voters
January 7
Gives rally in Berwick-upon-Tweed, claims Scots 'have been mainfestedly mistreated by Englishmen since 1707" and that the city was 'stolen from the Scottish people'.
January 8
Rests in Inverness hotel, after getting slight cold
January 9
GIves speech in Inverness saying that Labour has 'failed the Scots' and that things would only get better if Scotland elected SNP MPs.
January 10
Again spends time in Highlands meeting with voters
January 11
Campaign stops in Glasgow
January 12
Campaign stops in Orkney and Shetland islands
30 CP spent campaigning in Highlands/Orkney/Shetland, 10 CP on a national seat projection

[Lumine]

End of Turn One:

Cleggmania appears to be back as Clegg makes an impact

In the News:

The Guardian: Tough start for the Prime Minister

Despite launching quite an ambitious manifesto (leading to concerns about the cost of some of the Labour spending proposals) and taking the battle to Yorkshire, many appeared to have been disappointed by Mr. McDonnell's starting performance, buried under constant attacks and more visibility for Mrs. May and Mr. Clegg. A more interesting impact was brought by the brilliant performances of Chancellor Jeremy Corbyn and Home Secretary Lisa Nandy, whose performances both rallied their base in the North West of England and, particularly, give a needed boost to Labour in Scotland as the SNP has a disastrous first week. While Labour is on the retreat due to fire being focused from all sides, this could prevent a rise from a Green Party which has truly parked their tanks on Labour's ground...

Daily Telegraph: May goes all or nothing

We can claim with certainity that this first week of campaign was a victory for Theresa May. Launching a vocal pitch on the economy, Mrs. May has bravely thrown herself into the Labour heartlands to win voters who have never gone Tory before, and polling suggests she is beginning to succeed in the task of renewing her party's image. However, we on the Telegraph express out deepest concern about the evident turn towards the center by Mrs. May, including policies that cause us concern such as her bold plans for tuition fees and working class measures. Such a gamble could win the election for the Conservative Party, but also lose it for them.

The Independent: Cleggmania is back

Once again, Mr. Clegg has shown that he has a special quality to him matched by very few current politicians. Despite his involvement in the Brown coalition, his VONC against John McDonnell appears to have stop any damage for the Lib Dems, and an effective first week has seen both a compelling narrative, a responsible manifesto a strong pitch as why the Lib Dems should be considered a future serious party of government. We applaud and defend these measures as a proper reformist agenda for Britain, but we question whether Mr. Clegg is being entirely wise by scaling down past Lib Dem proposals on tuition fees. We could easily see parties such as the Greens or Labour exploting this, which can only lead to...

Daily Express: Nuttall tells it like it is

And just as the Conservatives prove once again too weak on the European Union and immigration, UKIP finally has a chance to make the Eurosceptic voice heard through the promise of a referendum. Reviled by many on British politics, Mr. Nuttall has nonetheless begun to strike a successful populist note with working class voters, particularly those who voted Labour before as UKIP launches a daring assault on the Labour heartlands of the North. While we believe Mr. Nuttall ought to be more outspoken on the campaign trail, his setpiece speech against Labour was a blistering indictement of a disastrous agenda for Britain held by the current Prime Minister...

Sunday Mail: Loony Nats aim for the Moon

Few parties have had such a starting election week as the SNP. Despite internal polling showing them within an inch of surpassing Labour across Scotland, the roll-out of the SNP manifesto by SNP Leader Alex Salmond has been widely derided for pledging independence within the next year, bringing back the poll tax to a substantial part of Scotland and, to the delight of Private Eye, the novel concept of an independent Scottish space program to put a man in the moon. Internal polling is already showing the SNP on the retreat in Scotland, particularly after a visit from the Home Secretary...

Belfast Telegraph: DUP, SF locked in bitter fight in Northern Ireland

Quite a fight is expected across Northern Ireland due to our new electoral system, with the last projections stating that the DUP, SF, SDLP, UUP, Alliance and the TUV would all win seats. Arlene Foster for the DUP and Gerry Adams for Sinn Fein have proved a strong presence across the region, both seeing rises in internal polling which would suggest that Northern Ireland is moving towards the two extremes. All in all, Mrs. Foster and the DUP are believed to have had the better performance on account of a bold manifesto, good organization and attacks on SF, the scenario beginning to shift as the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) is now believed to be under the 5% threshold needed to gain MP's.

[Lumine]

Turn Two:
The Debate Cometh

January 12th to January 19th, 2012

Dimbleby: Good evening, and welcome to our coverage of the 2012 General Election.

It's been a fascinating opening week for this general election campaign, with several parties launching their manifestos to scorn and praise from the media and the leaders starting to deploy what seems to be their own strategies. An interesting degree of hype surrounding the Lib Dem campaign has also emerged, with Nick Clegg surging as highly visible and effective force in the campaign trail alongside Theresa May, polling showing Mrs. May to be considered the more "prime-ministerial" of the three main leaders. Let's take a look at the poll average, and turn to Nick Robinson for more analysis:

Average Polls:

Conservative Party: 36% (+1)
Labour Party: 24% (-2)
Liberal Democrats: 24% (+2)
UKIP: 7% (+2)
Green Party: 3%
SNP: 2% (-1)
Others: 4% (-2)

Robinson: Quite a fascinating poll, David, and one that is likely to turn up the heat on the campaigns. The Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP make significant gains moving forward as Labour and the SNP take a hit, the first due to fire being concentrated on Labour from the other parties, the SNP for what was considered a bad start for their campaign.

What national polling may not be picking up, however, is the interesting regional shifts that internal polling is showing. Among others, polling companies report that the Labour vote is holding out strong on places like London and Scotland, that the Green Party may be in track to gain MP's by being close to the threshold in the South East, that Sinn Fein and the DUP are tied for the leadership in Northern Ireland, and that UKIP may be doing better than expected across the North.

Random Events:

SDLP councilors defect to Sinn Fein:

Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein have recieved an unexpected boost at the start of the General Election campaign, a small group of SDLP local councilors announcing their defection to SF by arguing the party was better poised to defend the interests of a united Ireland, and giving a boost to the party as the main alternative to the rising Democratic Unionist Party.

SNP under trouble over Berwick-Upon-Tweed claim

The fallout over a less than auspicious start for the SNP campaign continues, particularly after SNP Leader Alex Salmond made a show of visiting the Berwick area to claim it had been stolen by the English. Far from a welcome reception, the move drew protest from local people inside the area, and protests by unionist groups inside Scotland as well. Mr. Salmond is understood to have recieved several threatening letters warning him not to return to Berwick, leading to further questions about his decision.

"We're back to the bloody seventies", says Labour MP

The first crack on the unity of the Labour Party during this campaign has appeared as a vocal anti-McDonnell Labour MP was caught by a microfone making a series of comments about the present state of the party, and speaking in harsh terms of both Mr. McDonnell and Chancellor Jeremy Corbyn. The gaffe was further consolidated when the Labour MP, understood to be gloomy about his reelection prospects, argued the party was "back to the seventies".[/i]

Info from the GM:

1.- Turn: This turn lasts for 72 hours, ending on the afternoon of July 11th (Tuesday).

2.- Debate: This turn we have a debate! All leaders are welcome to participate. Particpation is optional for Sinn Fein and the DUP, they won't be penalized if they don't show up. You'll answer a series of questions, and may use the chance to attack other leaders. Winner of the debate gets a reward of 20 CP, second place gets 10 CP.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

January 13
Visits Edinburgh, claims that Scotland should have '1000 pandas sitting in its zoos' by 2030, calls pandas 'blessed animals that all belong in Scotland'.
January 14
Speaks before the PRC consulate in Edinburgh, says an independent Scotland will recognize Taiwan as the sole legitimate government of China.
January 15
In rally in Gretna Green claims that Nick Clegg is 'bigoted towards Scots' because he 'stands by the Union'.
January 16
Says an independent Scotland will, after landing man on moon, will build lunar moonbase by 2030, and hopefully meet some extraterrestrials.
January 17
Visits Aberdeen, says that 'I've just come from Kirkcaldy, where failed PM Gordon Brown, who sold out the Scots lived'.
January 18
Visits Coatbridge, calls it 'heaven on earth' and says it would be even more pleasant a place to live if Scotland became an independent country.
January 19
Visits Berwick-upon-tweed again, says it should be 'annexed back in an independent Scotland'. Cites  historical claims to the city that 'predate the reign of the glorious Richard the Third of England'.

[Dr. Cynic]

January 13-14
Charles Kennedy campaigns in Scotland, meeting with voters and addressing their concerns on local issues. Kennedy denies the idea that Clegg is a traitor and gives a strong defense for remaining united with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but also advocating increased devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament.

January 15-17
Charles Kennedy campaigns in Southwest England, and makes a speech in Plymouth on the economy, discussing LibDem economic proposals, and reminding the attendees that the new voting system makes sure that their voices will be heard.

January 18-19
Kennedy and Vince Cable barnstorm in London, talking about the Lib Dem environmental proposals.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Insert Farage schedule here (will be up tonight!)

[DKrol]

January 12 - January 19


First Minister Arlene Foster at the BBC Leaders Debate

January 12, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster gave a speech in Altmore, County Tyrone in the morning. She used the speech to attack Sinn Fein and their policy of abstentionism, arguing “What is the sense in voting for someone as your representative who won’t go on, take the seat, say the oath, and actually represent you? That’s like hiring a plumber who says he won’t show up, won’t find the leak, and won’t replace the pipe!” She stressed that the DUP was the only party that “can seriously work to improve the condition in Northern Ireland.”

She spent the rest of the day in meetings related to the Northern Irish Executive.

January 13, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster toured the Thomas Ferguson’s Irish Linen factory in Banbridge, County Down. Following her tour, she met with employees and held a roundtable discussion with management on “how the DUP can make business better”.

After the roundtable discussion, Foster knocked on doors in Banbridge for a few hours, before driving to Bangor to meet with DUP volunteers and make phone calls from the local DUP headquarters.

January 14, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held several meetings related to her role as First Minister of Northern Ireland in the morning and afternoon.

In the evening, she delivered a speech in Omagh about “putting Northern Ireland first”. In the speech, she pledged to “not just prop up some Westminster government”, if the election results would put her in a position to do so, “but extract deep, meaningful promises to ensure the needs of Northern Ireland are met”. Among those needs were several DUP Manifesto positions, including renovations to Belfast International Airport, expanded broadband internet connections, increased and bettered ferry services, and extended health care services.

January 15, 2012:

No public events were held, because DUP Leader Arlene Foster attended church in Enniskillen.

January 16, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster knocked on doors in her MLA constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone for most of the day. She then spent several hours making fundraising phone calls from her home in Enniskillen.

January 17, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster met with voters at a cafe in Derry, County Londonderry during the morning rush. She paused for many pictures and took several minutes with each voter in an effort to make a deep, lasting connection.

She appeared on BBC Radio Foyle in the afternoon and announced she would be participating in the BBC Leaders Debate. She explained her decision by saying that “Just as English MPs can vote on laws that affect Northern Ireland, Northern Irish MPs can vote on laws that affect England. I want the English, and the Scotts, and the Welsh, to know who the DUP are and to know what we stand for.” When asked if she would attend the second debate, Foster replied “We’ll see when the time comes.”

January 18, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster knocked on doors in the village of Brookeborough, County Fermanagh in the morning, before driving to Belfast to knock on doors there.

She spent the afternoon meeting with senior DUP officials at DUP headquarters in Belfast, developing election strategy, reviewing the past week, and preparing for the BBC Leaders Debate.

In the evening, the DUP held a rally in Victoria Park to send Foster off to London for the debate and to energize the party’s base. Ian Paisley, Jr., Nigel Dodds, and Pam Lewis each spoke to crowd before Emma Little-Pengelly introduced Foster. Foster gave a fiery and passionate speech making the case for the DUP as “the only party capable to doing the work of the Northern Irish electorate”. She also touted the DUP Manifesto as a “forward looking Manifesto for the 21st Century, not a backwards Manifesto for the battles of the 20th Century!” She then spent several minutes moving through the crowd and meeting with party loyalists and supporters.

January 19, 2012:

DUP Leader Arlene Foster held an interview with the Belfast Telegraph to begin the day. In the interview, she defended the DUP Manifesto position of holding a referendum on the status of the United Kingdom within the European Union. She told the reporter “If people vote to keep it the same or the people vote to leave, it doesn’t matter to me. We just need to have a vote on it and let the people from all over the nation weigh in on it. Our last vote on the EU was in 1975. I was five years old at the time. It’s time to let the younger generations weigh in on something so monumental.”

She then flew to London to participate in the BBC Leaders Debate. Before the debate she spent several hours meeting with voters in the pubs nears the BBC studios. Even though most of them wouldn’t be voting in Northern Ireland, Foster felt it was important to “show the people of the nation that the DUP aren’t the villains the media make us out to be”.

[Anna Komnene]

Lisa Nandy Promotes Farmers Markets and Internet Access in Rural England

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Campaign in Eastern Region

January 12-13: Ipswich and Norwich

January 14: Great Yarmouth

January 15: Wells-next-the-Sea

Campaign in South West Region

January 17: Bristol

January 18: Exeter

January 19: Devon and Cornwall

[GoTfan]

Corbyn goes Northeast

Corbyn at a rally in York

Chancellor Corbyn headed over to the Northeast of England this week, continuing to lock down Labour's traditional strongholds. He attended meetings of the various CLPs in the region and gave several major rallies, including another fiery address at a rally in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

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Corbyn gave several more speeches on this point, continuing to act as an attack dog for McConnell, focusing his fire on the other parties, allowing Nandy and McDonnell to focus on getting Labour's platform out to the public.

[Blair]

Clegg continues weekly address.

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January 12th-Nick Clegg gives speech at Royal Society of Medicine, London. Pledges to protect doctors+Nurses, and fight for patients

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January 13th-Clegg visits car factory in Sunderland, North East. Warns McDonnells' and Corbyns' anti-EU views would crash car industry

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January 14th-Clegg woos Labour voters in Exeter, South West.  Tells Labour voters to 'join our quest for a fair deal'.

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January 15th-Clegg blasts SNP 'School kids need free lunches, not a space program' Glasgow, Scotland.

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January 16th-Clegg promises 'New, Fairer Politics' with raft of reforms for British Politics. Edinburgh, Scotland.

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January 17th-Clegg gives interview to Guardian- 'This campaign will test just how much people want change'.

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January 18th-Clegg launches rally for 'your voice, your vote' campaign to raise awareness of new voting system, Croydon, London'.

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January 18th-Clegg meets with small businesses and promises to protect 'beating heart of Britains Economy''  Sevenoaks, South East'.

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[Donerail]

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams toasts the new Sinn Féin councilors in Derry

January 13:

Adams spent the day knocking doors in the town of Castlederg, later retiring to his hotel to make phone calls to local voters. Asked by an Irish News reporter about his participation in the BBC Leaders Debate, he confirmed that he planned to participate, citing the previous participation of Plaid Cymru and the SNP as justifying “some measure of representation of Irish political issues, just as Scottish and Welsh issues have the opportunity for a national spotlight in these events.”

January 14:

Adams spent the morning knocking doors in Maghera, with an evening visit to the historic William Clark & Sons linen mill to discuss industrial policy and the effects of EU policy on the Irish textiles industry.

January 15:

Knocking doors in Magherafelt, with an afternoon visit to St. Mary’s Grammar School to discuss the upcoming election with students.

January 16:

Knocking doors in Eglinton in the morning, followed by a meeting with businesses in the aviation sector at City of Derry Airport to discuss the future of the airport in the face of declining passenger numbers, as part of a broader discussion on infrastructure in the Six Counties.

January 17:

Knocking doors in Derry, followed by an evening rally featuring local ex-SDLP councilors who defected to Sinn Féin.

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January 18:

Roundtable with local business owners in Limavady, followed by an evening appearance on BBC Radio Ulster to discuss the potential effects of a referendum on EU membership

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January 19:

Adams spent a relaxing morning on the beach at Portstewart, occasionally making conversation with locals and tourists, before flying to London to participate in the BBC debate. As a true man of the people, he went to London via Ryanair’s Derry to Stansted route.

5 CPs spent on a canvassing team in Northern Ireland

[Mike Thick]

McDonnell Visits Derby:

Prime Minister McDonnell visiting Derby

Prime Minister McDonnell visited Derby today, visiting Derby and -- surprising many -- visiting the Labour constituency of Derby.

McDonnell spent two days (13th an 14th) canvassing in the West Midlands and meeting with voters. When asked about the manifesto of the Conservative Party by a reporter, the Prime Minister gave the following statement.

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On the 15th and 16th, McDonnell headed to London to shore up Labour's support there. Speaking to a crowd in Hyde Park, he commented on the debate about infrastructure:

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Then, on the 17th-19th, McDonnell headed up to Edinburgh, Scotland; where he slammed the SNP for their bizarre manifesto while talking with voters at a restaurant.

[quote author=Slamming the SNP for a bizarre manifesto]Scotland does not need ing pandas, Scotlan needs good-paying jobs. Scotland does not need to send astronauts to the moon, Scotland needs proper internet service. And Scotland does not need to "re-annex" towns in England, Scotland needs a stronger NHS. I hope that all voters, regardless of political leanings, can acknowledge how frivolous and truly callous to the people's needs Mr. Salmond's manifesto is.

Campaign Points:
10 points on canvassing in Scotland, 5 points on canvassing in the West Midlands.